Carburetor



Oct. 11, 1966 G, W SH 3,278,174

GARBURETOR Filed April l6, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GEORGE l. WAHNISH BY Q KJM ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,2781% Patented Oct. 11, 1966 3,278,174 CARBIURETOR George I. Wahnish, 246 E. Plenty St., Long Beach, Calif. Filed Apr. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 448,768 7 Claims. (Cl. 261-91) The present invention relates to a new and novel carburetor, and more particularly to a carburetor which is adapted to produce a highly combustible gas or vapor as utilized for example with internal combustion engines and the like.

Carburetors as presently employed with internal combustion engines and the like generally employ an air passage through which air moves during operation of the engine, and means for spraying a fine mist of tiny droplets of fuel such as gas into the air stream. With this arrangement, the droplets of gas moving rapidly into the combustion chambers of the engine do not become completely vaporized, and as a result, inelficient combustion is obtained, and the fuel does not burn completely such that certain portions thereof are wasted.

With the present invention, a novel arrangement is provided whereby substantially complete vaporization of the fuel is obtained when mixed with the air passing through the air passage of the carburetor so that more effective carburetion is obtained and the efficiency of operation is increased and elements of the mixture which usually go to waste are consumed.

The improved vaporization as obtained in the present invention is obtained by providing a fuel chamber spaced from the air flow passage and having agitating means disposed within the fuel chamber. This agitating means includes a portion submerged within the fuel in the lower portion of the chamber, the agitating means operating upon the fuel so as to provide a greater surface area from which vaporization can occur and the agitation of the fuel which it produces itself also assisting in effecting vaporization.

With this arrangement the fuel vaporizes in the upper portion of the fuel chamber and is drawn outwardly therefrom by an aspirating effect caused by the movement of air through the air flow passage of the carburetor. As the vapor passes from the upper portion of the fuel chamher, it is additionally mixed with the air passing through the air flow passage by the action of an operating means or rotor associated with the agitating means which is disposed within the air flow passage and which produces rotation of the agitating means.

The rotor includes a plurality of vanes formed thereon disposed in the air flow passage so that the flow of air will spin the rotor in accordance with the intake manifold pressure. Accordingly, the speed of rotation of the agitating means is proportional to the intake manifold pressure so that the agitating means will cause greater vaporization as the demands of the engine increase, and accordingly the carburetor is responsive to the engine requirements in providing increased vaporization when the demands of the engine increase. In this manner, the carburetor is automatically responsive to the intake manifold pressure.

The agitator means cooperates in a novel manner with the fuel chamber so as to provide optimum vaporization. The fuel chamber has a generally cylindrical inner surface, and the spaced plurality of arms at the lower end of the agitating means extend out to a point adjacent to and spaced slightly from the inner wall, these arms also being disposed adjacent the bottom of the fuel chamber. These arms are relatively long and narrow, and when they rotate Within the lower portion of the fuel chamber, the fuel therein is rotated and assumes a configuration whereby a substantially parabolic cavity is formed in the center of the body of fuel, and the fuel extends upwardly along the sides of the fuel chamber to terminate in a very thin layer of fuel at the upper part of the body of fuel.

This action of the agitating means substantially increases the surface area of the fuel and causes substantial surface agitation thereof so as to greatly enhance the vaporization of the fuel Within the upper portion of the fuel chamber.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and novel carburetor apparatus for use where highly combustible gas or vapor is required such as in internal combustion engines and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a carburetor which produces a vapor resulting in increased efiiciency, more effective carburetion, and the consumption of substantially all of the combustible elements of the resulting mixture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a carburetor including a rotor means mounted within the air flow passage which serves to drive an agitating means and which serves as a mixing device for obtaining efiicient mixing of the vaporized fuel with air flowing through the air flow passage.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a carburetor wherein improved vaporization is provided by a most effective agitator design which cooperates in a novel manner with the associated fuel chamber.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a carburetor including agitating means wherein the agitating action and motion of the agitating means is automatically responsive to the intake manifold pressure so as to cause the carburetor to be responsive to engine demands.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the following description and claims, and accompanying drawings wherein:.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the agitating means and the associated operating means or rotor of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5'5 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the air fioW passage of the carburetor is indicated generally by reference numeral 10, the passage being shown in simplified form without a venturi or other elements conventionally employed in order to simplify the construction and clearly disclose the present invention. A choke valve 12 and a butterfly throttle valve 14 are provided within air flow passage If these valves being of a relatively conventional construction and operated in the usual manner.

The carburetor includes a housing 16 including as seen particularly in FIG. 5 an end wall 18, front and back walls 19 and 2d and an opposite end wall 21. It will be noted that end wall 18 is substantially flat while the opposite end wall 21 may be arcuate in configuration. As seen particularly in FIG. 1, the upper portions of end walls 18 and 21 are provided with laterally extending flanges which receive suitable fastening elements 22 such as screws or the like for securing the housing to the air flow passage.

The housing 16 also includes a lower Wall 24 and an intermediate dividing wall 26 which separates the interior of the housing into a float chamber 28 and a fuel chamber 39. Dividing wall 26 is provided with a hole 32 formed therethrough which provides communication between the float chamber and the fuel chamber.

A conventional float 40 is supported within the float chamber 28, the float 40 being adapted to control the operation of a conventional needle valve 42 located in inlet 44 through which gasoline or other fuel is supplied to the float chamber and fuel chamber through a conduit 46 connected with a suitable source of fuel.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, a generally horizontally extending wall portion 50 is provided in the upper portion of the fuel chamber 30, and extends between the inner walls of the fuel chamber. Wall portion 50 includes an upwardly directed annular flange portion 52 having threads formed on the outer surface thereof and defining a relatively large central hole through wall portion 50.

A mounting member 60 includes a generally cylindrical upper portion which fits relatively snugly within a hole 62 provided in the lower wall of the air flow passage 10. Member 60 includes a downwardly extending annular flange portion 64 having threads 66 formed on the outer surface thereof which are adapted to cooperate with the threads formed on portion 52 of wall 50 so that mounting member 60 may be threaded into the position shown in the drawings.

Mounting member 60 also includes a peripherally extending outwardly directed flange 68 which when in the operative position shown serves to compress a gasket 70 between flange 68 and the undersurface of air flow passage to provide a seal therewith.

Suitable holes are provided through the mounting member 60 to provide communication between the air flow passage and the upper portion of the fuel chamber, and in the modification shown four generally cylindrical hOles 74 are provided at equally spaced positions about the upper part of member 60. It is apparent that any suitable numher or spacing of holes may be provided as long as sufficient holes are incorporated in the structure so as to permit free passage of the vaporized fuel from the fuel chamber into the air flow passage.

Mlounting member 60 includes a central depending tubular portion 80 for a purpose hereinafter described, and a bushing 82 is supported in the upper part of member 60. A plurality of filter members 86 in the form of Wire mesh filter means are provided, these filter means being maintained in spaced relationship by annular metal gaskets 88. The arrangement affords three layers of filtering material such as wire mesh for preventing the entry of foreign matter into the apparatus. It will be noted that the filter members are maintained in the operative position shown by being clamped between the undersurface of member 60 and the top of portion 52 of wall 50. It will also be noted that the filter members are adapted to fit relatively snugly about the out-er surface of tubular portion 80.

The agitating means of the present invention includes an elongated cylindrical shank portion 99 which extends through the hollow tubular portion 80, member 90 being rotatably supported by bushing 82, and a collar 94 is secured to the shank portion 90 by means of a set screw 96 for limiting upward movement of the member 90.

The upper end of member 90 is provided with an enlarged head 98, and a rotor indicated generally by reference numeral 100 includes an upper wall 102 and a lower wall 104. A ring-like portion 106 rests on the upper end of bushing 82, and the rotor includes a central sleeve portion 108 which fits between ring portion 106 and the upper head 98 on member 90. As seen particularly in FIG. 2, the rotor includes a plurality of vanes 110 which cause rotation of the rotor when impinged upon by the air passing through the air flow passage.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4, the air flow passage 10 is provided with an offset portion 114, and the rotor 100 is mounted to one side of the longitudinal axis of air flow passage 10 and is disposed partly within this 4 offset portion 114 to thereby ensure eflicient operation and rotation of the rotor upon movement of air through the air flow passage.

The lower end of member includes an integral enlarged portion 120 from which extend radially outwardly thereof a plurality of angularly spaced arms shown as being seven in number. It will be noted that these arms extend outwardly to a point wherein the outer ends of the arms are disposed closely adjacent to and slightly spaced from the inner wall of the associated fuel chamber. Each of the arms 122 is relatively narrow and elongated and may include an enlarged depending portion 124 which extends from an intermediate point on the arms outwardly to the ends of the arms. It is apparent that any number and particular configuration of arms may be employed if desired.

In operation, the float chamber and the fuel chamber will normally be provided with a body of fuel in the lower portions thereof. Upon the flow of air through the air flow passage, the rotor will be caused to rotate due to impingement of the air upon the vanes of the rotor. This in turn will cause rotation of the agitating means whereby the arms 124 will whirl about in the lower part of the fuel chamber and urge the fuel in the chamber into the general configuration as shown in FIG. 1 wherein the body of fluid is provided with a substantially parabolic cavity in the center part thereof. This causes the fuel to move up along the side walls of the fuel chamber to form a generally thin layer at the upper part of the chamber, and to substantially increase the surface area of the fuel in the chamber while at the same time causing rapid agitation of the surface thereof. In this manner, eflicient vaporization of the fuel is obtained in the upper portion of the fuel chamber whereupon this vapor is aspirated into the air passing through the air flow passage through the hole 74, the vapor being efiiciently mixed with the air in the air flow passage when passing out through the vanes of the rotor which serves to provide efficient mixing.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention a carburetor which is adapted to be employed wherever highly combustible gas or vapor is required, and which is particularly adapted for use with internal combustion engines and the like. The apparatus of the present invention effectively produces a vapor and eliminates droplets which are commonly formed by conventional carburetors thereby increasing the efiiciency, providing more effective carburetion and further burning elements of the mixture which are usually wasted. The rotor which produces rotation of the agitating means also serves to effectively mix the vaporized fuel with the air passing through the air flow passage. The particular agitator design provides improved vaporization of the fuel within the fuel chamber, the agitating act-ion is automatically responsive to the intake manifold pressure and therefore responsive to the engine demands.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. In a carburetor, an air flow passage, a fuel chamber, means providing communication between said air flow passage and the upper portion of said fuel chamber, the lower portion of said fuel chamber receiving fuel therewithin, agitating means movably supported within said fuel chamber for agitating fuel therew-ithin and thereby causing vaporization of fuel at and from a liquid fuel free surface of substantial area within a portion of said chamber and being submerged within the fuel in the lower portion thereof, and operating means for moving said agitating means, said opera-ting means including a portion disposed within sa-id air passage.

2. In a carburetor, an air flow passage, a fuel chamber, means providing communication between said air flow passage and the upper portion of said fuel chamber, the lower portion of said fuel chamber being adapted to receive a body of fuel, agitating means rotatably supported within said fuel chamber for agitating fuel therewithin and thereby causing vaporization of fuel at and from a liquid fuel free surface of substantial area within a portion of said chamber and including a portion submerged within fuel in the lower portion of said chamber, and operating means for normally rotating said agitating means within said fuel chamber, said operating means including a portion disposed within said air passage and having vanes formed thereon so as to be moved by the passage of air through said air passage.

3. In a carburetor, an air flow passage, a fuel chamber spaced from said air flow passage, means providing communication between said air flow passage and the upper portion of said fuel chamber, said fuel chamber being adapted to receive a body of fuel in the lower portion thereof, agitating mean-s rotatably supported within said fuel chamber for agitating fuel therewithin and thereby causing vaporization of fuel at and from a liquid fuel free surface of substantial area within a portion of said chamber and including a plurality of angularly spaced arms at the lower end thereof and submerged within the fuel in the fuel chamber, operating means for rotating said agitating means during operation of the carburetor, said operating means including a portion disposed within said air passage and having vanes formed thereon so as to be rotated by passage of air through said air passage.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said plurality of angularly spaced arms on said agitating means each extend to a point adjacent the wall of said fuel chamber and spaced slightly therefrom.

5. In a carburetor, an air flow passage, a fuel chamber, means providing communication between said air flow passage and the upper portion of said fuel chamber, the lower portion of said fuel chamber being adapted to receive a body of fuel therein, the inner wall of said fuel chamber being substantially cylindrical in configuration, agitating means rotatably disposed within said fuel chamber for agitating fuel therewith and thereby causing vaporization of fuel at and from a liquid fuel free surface of substantial area within a portion of said chamber and including a lower portion comprising a plurality of arms submerged within the fuel in said fuel chamber, said arms extending to a point adjacent to and spaced slightly from the said inner wall of the fuel chamber, and operating means for rotating said agitating means during operation of the apparatus, said operating means including a portion disposed with-in said air passage and having vanes formed thereon for causing rotation of the operating means and agitating means upon movement of air through said air passage.

6. In a carburetor, an elongated air flow passage, a fuel chamber spaced from said air flow passage, said air flow passage having holes formed therein and providing communication bet-ween said air flow passage and the upper portion of said fuel chamber, said fuel chamber including an inner wall which is substantially cylindrical in configuration, a float chamber, means providing communication between said float chamber and said fuel chamber, said float chamber and the lower portion of said fuel chamber receiving a body of fuel therein, agitating means rotatably disposed within said fuel chamber for agitating fuel therewithin and thereby causing vaporization of fuel at and from a liquid fuel free surface of substantial area within a portion of said chamber, said agitating means including at the lower portion thereof a plurality of angular outwardly extending arms, said arms being disposed adjacent to and spaced from the bottom of the fuel chamber and also extending to a point adjacent to and spaced silghtly from the inner wall of said chamber, operating means for rotating said agitating means and including a portion disposed Within said air passage and having vanes formed thereon so as to rotate the operating means and the agitating means upon movement of air through said air passage.

7. in a carburetor, an air flow passage of a generally elongated cylindrical configuration, a fuel chamber, means providing communication between said air flow passage and the upper portion of said fuel chamber, the lower portion of said fuel chamber being adapted to receive a body of fuel therein and the inner wall of a said fuel chamber being substantially cylindrical in configuration, agitating means rotatably disposed within said fuel chamber for agitating fuel therewith-in and thereby causing vaporization of fuel at and from a liquid fuel free surface of substantial area within a portion of said chamber and including a lower portion comprising a plurality of arms submerged within the fuel in said fuel chamber, said arms extending to a point adjacent to and spaced slightly from the said inner wall of the fuel chamber, and operating means for rotating said agitating means during operation of the apparatus, said operating means including a portion disposed within an offset to one side of said air passage and having vanes formed thereon for causing rotation of the operating means and the agitating means upon movement of air through said air flow passage.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 63,326 3/1867 Stephenson 261-84 X 1,153,077 9/1915 Hippel 261- 2,384,609 9/1945 Vries 261-72 X 2,397,230 3/1946 Armathes 261-84 2,561,256 7/1951 Wilson et al.

2,797,072 6/1957 Lucas 261-72 X HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner. RONALD R. WEAVER, Examiner. 

1. IN A CARBURETOR, AN INLET FLOW PASSAGE, A FUEL CHAMBER, MEANS PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID AIR FLOW PASSAGE AND THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID FUEL CHAMBER, THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID FUEL CHAMBER RECEIVING FUEL THEREWITHIN, AGITATING MEANS MOVABLE SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID FUEL CHAMBER FOR AGITATING FUEL THEREWITHIN AND THEREBY CAUSING VAPORIZATION OF FUEL AT AND FROM A LIQUID FUEL FREE SURFACE OF SUBSTANTIAL AREA WITHIN A PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER AND BEING SUBMERGED WITHIN THE FUEL IN THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF, AND OPERATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID AGITATING MEANS, SAID OPERATING MEANS INCLUDING A PORTION DISPOSED WITHIN SAID AIR PASSAGE. 